Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies at Charles Sturt University

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies - Canada BEarlyChildStud

CSU’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies provides a degree-level qualification for Diploma-trained educators in the field of early childhood teaching.

About the course

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies is a four-year Honours program that builds on the Diploma of Early Childhood Education offered at Ontario Colleges, in particular Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology and Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, with whom CSU has worked collaboratively to develop this program. Applicants from these institutions will be granted recognition of their existing two-year ECE diploma level qualification.

The program aims to bring multiple and critical perspectives to the forefront in the preparation of early childhood professionals, and seeks to develop graduates who are leaders and advocates in the early childhood field.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies recognises the importance of highly qualified early childhood educators and the contribution they make to the economic, social and cultural fabric of societies. This program aims to produce graduates who are committed to continuing personal and professional growth and who aspire to positions as leaders and advocates in their field, resulting in highly qualified early childhood educators who can make a difference in the lives of children, families and communities.

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies is organised across several strands:

curriculum studies
professional experience
research and critical perspectives
breadth subjects

This program provides a pathway for articulation between a college diploma and degree-level studies and will be offered full-time on campus, with limited options to undertake a lighter, part-time load. The course is offered on two afternoons and two evenings each week, plus one distance education or elective course each term. This flexible method of delivery allows students to work part-time while completing their degree.

Course aims and objectives

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies has the following objectives for students to develop and demonstrate:

specialized knowledge and critical understandings of a range of theoretical approaches used in early childhood education, particularly those relating to early childhood pedagogies, curriculum content and approaches
a commitment to working with children, families and communities based on critical evaluation of issues related to diversity, social justice, equity principles and the commitment to promoting these in leadership and advocacy roles
an understanding of current social, political and economic contexts, both national and international and understanding of the implications of these for early childhood education
the ability to critically analyze, reflect upon and synthesize and evaluate current theories, approaches, pedagogies and practices within early childhood in order to articulate a personal philosophy of early childhood education
a developing competence in accessing, synthesizing, critically evaluating and applying research approaches and outcomes
the capacity to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues and other professionals, within and across disciplines
leadership skills appropriate to their educational context.

Where it will take you

This is a very exciting time in the field of early childhood and is an excellent time to upgrade your qualifications. The new report on implementing early learning in Ontario (With our Best Future in Mind at www.ontario.ca/en/initiatives/early_learning/ONT06_018876) recommends that a speciality degree in early childhood should be the required qualification for Early Learning Program teachers, directors in Best Start Child and Family Centres, and early childhood resource teachers. Graduates of CSU's Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies are also qualified to further their education in specializations such as speech and language pathology or primary-junior education. Those who choose to further their education will be qualified to apply for elementary teacher education programs, such as CSU's Bachelor of Primary Education Studies and are also qualified to enter graduate programs at the Master level.

Practical experience

The aim of the Professional Experience component of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies program is to enable students to put into practice advanced knowledge and skills developed through the program and to reflect critically on their practice and the knowledge that informs it. This approach to Professional Experience is designed to facilitate the development of a community of practice within the University program and beyond, and provide a model that students may continue to work with following graduation. It sets up an initial local community of practice with the potential for graduates as expert practitioners and critically reflective professionals to be members of a much broader community of practice: provincial, national and international.

There are two Professional Experience placements in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies program. The first is associated with the course Communities as Contexts for Professional Practice and will be undertaken in Term 1 of the second year. This experience period is of 21 days’ duration, made up of two days per week for three weeks, followed by a 15-day block placement.

The first Professional Experience will be undertaken in an early childhood service where students will be able to work directly with children, families and the community in which the service is located; for example: regulated and/or licensed full-day and half-day childcare, nursery schools, early years programs and junior/senior kindergarten.

The second Professional Experience is associated with the course Leadership in Early Childhood Education and will be undertaken in Term 2 of the second year of the program. This experience period is of 20 days' duration, made up of two days per week for five weeks, followed by a 10-day block placement.

The second Professional Experience will be undertaken in an early childhood service where students will be able to take on a leadership and management role. It could include the types of services listed above, but the student will not be working directly with children; rather, the focus will be on leadership and management skills. Other possibilities include resource centres, research centres, private home childcare agencies, and government agencies.

For either Professional Experience, alternative models may be negotiated with individual students and services to meet the needs of part-time employed students in the program.

Additional requirements

Refer to the Additional requirements section for information on:

Laptop requirements

Credit

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies will normally be awarded 96 transfer credit points towards the degree. This is based on the applicant's prior completion of a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

A further 160 points of study (20 courses) will be required for graduation.

Graduation requirements

To graduate from the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points, which comprises coursework and the credit package granted upon admission.

Frequently asked questions

How much credit is given for a Diploma in Early Childhood from an Ontario Community College towards the completion of the four-year Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies?
The full credit allowed by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (40% towards a four year Honours degree) is granted. In order to permit students to complete the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies in only two additional years, CSU-Ontario provides the remaining 60% of the program within a two-year period.

It is indicated that Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies has been developed in direct partnership with Sheridan and Mohawk. Are graduates of other Ontario Community Colleges eligible to apply?
Yes, anyone with a diploma in early childhood from an Ontario Community College with the required standing (B or equivalent) is eligible to apply, however, since the program was specifically developed as a logical extension of existing two-year diploma programs at Mohawk and Sheridan, graduates of these colleges will be given priority.

It is also indicated that applicants who have been in the field for five years may apply. What about applicants who were granted diplomas in early childhood more than five years ago?
As indicated above, the degree was developed as a logical extension of current diploma programs at Mohawk and Sheridan, so applicants who have completed this diploma within the past five years will be given priority, however applicants with a range of practical experience in the field for longer than five years are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are asked to submit a summary of their practical experience (exclusive of college field experiences) to help with this selection process.

How is the tuition fee of CAD$16,000 a year justified?
Charles Sturt University is a public, not-for-profit institution and does not receive any funding from either the Australian or the Ontario government to support its programs in Ontario. The yearly tuition reflects the actual cost to the University of providing a world-class Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Studies.

Applicants are advised to compare the cost of attending alternative university programs in which they may have to complete an additional year to acquire a comparable Honours degree that will permit them to enter postgraduate programs (e.g. one-year Faculty of Education programs in Primary-Junior education, Master-level programs, Speech-Language Pathology programs). This not only saves the cost of an additional year of university tuition, but also results in earlier graduation and streamlined access to more lucrative positions in the field. For those applicants living in the Hamilton, Halton and Peel areas, the proximity of the Ontario Campus in Burlington eliminates considerable relocation and commuting costs. As well, there are no hidden costs at CSU (no fees for parking, photocopying, printing) and textbook prices are kept low because many course resources are provided free through the CSU online library system.

Are there any loans or scholarships available?
Yes. Students enrolled in CSU Ontario’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies program qualify for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loans. Information about how to apply for these loans is available by contacting the Ontario Student Assistance Program online at osap.gov.on.ca

As well, there is a $5,000 bursary (divided into two bursaries of $2,000 each for full-time students and one bursary of $1,000 for part-time students). These bursaries are available to students in their first two sessions of study in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies. They are granted on the basis of scholarship and professional merit. Information about how to apply for these bursaries is available by contacting CSU Ontario on 905 333 4955 or emailing earlychildhood@csu.edu.au

Applicants are also advised to investigate bank loans. Students in the CSU Ontario Faculty of Education program have found this option to be equitable with OSAP opportunities.

Will part-time options be available for those who must continue working?
Yes, students may apply to attend on a half-time basis. This would equate to two courses per term for four terms, with an additional requirement to complete four elective courses either by distance education from CSU, or part-time at McMaster University.

How much would it cost to attend part-time?
The cost for each course is CAD$1600. The tuition for students taking two courses per term would be CAD$3200 per term for four years (CAD$6400 per year). The additional four elective courses would cost approximately CAD$1600 each (tuition costs for those opting to take electives from McMaster University has not yet been determined).

When would the part-time courses be offered?
This will depend on the number of applicants for full-time and part-time status. One possible scenario would be two three-hour evening courses per week; another would be one three-hour afternoon course, and one three-hour evening course per week. Since we are a small campus, these kinds of decision are best made after we know who our student population is and what would best fit the needs of the majority of our students.

How long would a student be given to complete the degree part-time?
The degree would have to be completed within a five-year period.

Would liberal arts courses which have already been completed at university level be accepted for the elective requirements?
These elective options will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.

How will students access the electives courses at McMaster?
These details are still being worked out and will be finalized by the time students are required to enrol in their first elective course (Year one, Term two)

Will credit be given for undergraduate university courses that have already been completed?
Credit will be considered for degree level university courses successfully completed within the last ten years, for which they either have direct equivalency with courses in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies or could be counted as electives.

What evidence is required for this elective credit to be granted?
To be given equivalency for one of the four elective courses in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, a transcript must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution to the Coordinator, Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, at Charles Sturt University’s Burlington, Ontario Campus, as well as official course descriptions from the University catalogue describing course level, duration and a description.

Would any additional credit be given beyond the four elective courses for completed degree level courses?
Up to 50% of the two-year degree completion program may be granted if the applicant can provide evidence of completing degree level courses that are considered equivalent to year three and four courses in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies.

What evidence is required for this equivalency credit to be granted?
As above, a transcript must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution to the Coordinator, Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies at Charles Sturt University’s Ontario Campus. In addition, official course descriptions from the university brochure must be provided. The Coordinator, Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, will make the final decision regarding the equivalency of these courses.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the period from 17th April 2009 to 17th April 2014. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the programs and the degrees will be appropriate to their needs (e.g. acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions).

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